OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the overall survival of patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer treated with carboplatin and paclitaxel with vs without ISIS 3521. II. Compare the time to tumor progression and time to treatment failure in patients treated with these regimens. III. Compare the overall (complete plus partial) response rate in patients with measurable disease treated with these regimens. IV. Compare the percentage of patients with non-measurable, evaluable disease who have a complete response after treatment with these regimens. V. Compare the duration of response in patients with a complete or partial response after treatment with these regimens. VI. Compare the safety of these regimens in these patients.